Memory Lane

IN the Worcestershire and the War section it was reported a Sidemoor man had been killed in action.

Private Osbert Troth, of the 1st Worcesters – son of Robert Troth of Melbourne Road – had reportedly been killed between March 10 and 13.

The 21-year-old had been working in the Bromsgrove Guild when the war broke out, and before Christmas went out to France to the 1st Battalion.

It was also reported that Richard Haines, of Tutnall, had been notified that his son, Private Arthur Haines of the 1st Worcesters had died.

It was understood he had died at No 7 Clearing Hospital from his wounds.

The 20-year-old had enlisted soon after the end of August, after the break out of war.

BROMSGROVE Rovers had managed their first victory since October.

In a terrible campaign, in which they had managed only two victories and eight points, a reorganised team secured a surprise 4-0 victory against Cannock Town at the Victoria Ground.

April 9, 1965.

WHILE on their way to Cornwall a Bromsgrove bridge and groom lost their honeymoon car after it was badly damaged in a fire.

Robin Wheeler of Catshill and the former Margaret Bangert of Sidemoor drove down the M5 and stopped at a motorway cafe in Strensham.

Soon after ordering their drinks, someone shouted that their car was on fire.

The couple managed to rescue their luggage but by the time the fire brigade arrived, the car had been completely destroyed.

MORE than 20 farmers from across the Bromsgrove district went to the House of Commons to lobby MPs as part of a mass countryside protest against the Government’s agricultural prices award.

Tom Parkes, chairman of the Bromsgrove National Farmers Union branch, said the protest "did a lot of good" as members were able to explain to MPs the details of what had caused their dissatisfaction.

WORK was to begin that April on Bromsgrove’s new fire station.

The two storey building was expected to feature county buildings and the new station, as well as four firemen’s flats and a five storey drill tower.

THERE was a warning Worcestershire would change beyond recognition and completely lose its character if part of a 3,000,000 overspill was housed there.

The comments had been made by Christopher Cadbury , a member of Worcestershire County Council’s planning committee.

April 12, 1990.

AN impressive mansion in Finstall looked set to become the new home of the Primrose Hospice charity.

The hospice, that was at the time based at buildings in the former Hill Top Hospital, had applied to Bromsgrove planners for permission to change the use of the Victorian house - known as St Godwald’s – from residential use to a day hospice.

The house, that was up for sale for £325,000, had seven double bedrooms and described as having many fine period features.

IMAGES leisure centre had closed unexpectedly.

Members first learned of the closure when they were greeted by notices posted around the building by Chubb – the security firm sent in to guard the premises.

Users were said to be furious after paying subscriptions, only to be turned away the following day.

THE burial rights of some Bromsgrove residents were possibly going to be removed.

For two decades Barnt Green resident had the right to be buried in their local churchyard at St Laurence’s in Alvechurch.

But Boundary Commission officers were looking at Barnt Green becoming served by Alvechurch Parish Council – and if the move came to fruition any burial rights would become invalid.

REQUESTS by homeless people for accommodation in Droitwich had increased by 400 per cent in a year.

The Droitwich Homeless Project, set up in 1988, had been set up to tackle the problem and they were among the agencies to see the rise in calls from homeless people.

PLANS had been revealed to build 30 new starter homes on the former Cottage Hospital site close to Bromsgrove town centre.

Planners had given the go-ahead to the proposal for the new homes in New Road.

Memory Lane is compiled from the papers dating back to the Messenger's first edition in 1860. The papers are free to view at Bromsgrove Library, in Stratford Road.

For more information call the library on 01905 822722.